Monday, April 28, 2014

Rock Hill Farms Bourbon

Hi everyone, thanks for checking back in for another entry of the Blundon Bourbon Review. It's Derby week, and with the race right around the corner, we have a very fitting review: Rock Hill Farms! This single barrel bourbon is a product of the Sazerac Company (Buffalo Trace), and is bottled at 100 proof with no age statement. 

Color: Golden Amber

Nose: A unique yet balanced mix of sweet and spicy.  Vanilla, syrup, creamed corn, spicy oak, pepper, pine, hay, brown sugar, dried fruits, grains. 

Taste: Medium-full bodied mouthfeel. Oak spice, subtle rye, black pepper, caramel, oats, barley, and subtle mint. 

Finish:  Long and tasty. Spicy oak is dominant.  Leather and hay also linger for lasting warmth. 


Conclusion: I really enjoyed this bourbon. It has a rich flavor profile that is fairly unique, yet well balanced. At a $50 price tag, this bottle is a great one time purchase, however, not something I would keep stocked at the home bar. 


My Rating: B+ (Very Good)


Video Review: 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Tom Bulleit, Master Distiller for @BulleitUSA has created a great product in Bulleit Rye. It is said to be a 19th century family recipe. It is a small batch, 95% rye whiskey bottled at 90 proof with no age statement. The juice is sourced from Midwestern Grain Products (MGP) and is made in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. 

Color: Damp Copper

Nose: Lots of herbal notes. Evergreen, mint, cut grass. Neat nostalgia factor here- it reminds me of playing in the grass as a kid. Sweet caramel is hidden under the leaves somewhere. 

Taste: Heavy rye spice with a smooth and delicate mouthfeel. Evergreen, green tea. 

Finish: Herbal notes wisp away for an extremely short finish. 


Conclusion:  Be it hard pressed to find a better rye whiskey at a $20 price tag. That being said, the blade cuts both ways, and Bulleit Rye has a fairly one-dimensional presence on the palate. It is very drinkable and was fine when drinking neat, however, I recommend it be mixed in cocktails (Manhattan for instance). I would love to try this at a higher proof and older age statement. 


My Rating: B (Good)


Video Review: 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Michter's Small Batch Bourbon


Michter's Distillery has been churning out products rather rapidly over the past two years, recently receiving the recognition as 2012 Distiller of the Year. This small batch bourbon is my first Michter's product. There is no age statement on the label (however it is "matured to the peak of perfection"). This bottle is from batch No. 1272 with a proof of 91.4.  
Color: Late summer honey

Nose: Extremely sweet, floral and elegant. Vanilla, maraschino cherries, cream of corn, brown sugar, Dr. Pepper. 

Taste: Subtle caramel sweetness that fades rapidly and transitions into a rocky crescendo of earthy and leathery notes. Straw, rye bread, charred oak and tobacco dominate. 

Finish: Short finish. Very smooth and extremely easy to drink neat at 91.4 proof.  Oak lingers and my palate is left dry as if I just smoked a cigar.


Conclusion:  
Michter's claims to use "pre-revolutionary war quality standards" dating back to 1753. Well, it should be a crime against humanity to present such an elegantly complex nose yet leave such a flat presence on the palate. While this is a very smooth bourbon with an decadent nose, the lack of intrigue on the palate and the flat "dry mouth" finish leave a lot to be desired. For me, this was a must try, and while it did get better with time, at $39.99, I won't be buying another.

My Rating: C (Decent)



Video Review: